Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 30,198, settled in 1840.
Because it does well by almost any measure. Independence earns an A+, ranked 6th of 138 in Kentucky. It reports less crime per resident than 91% of U.S. towns, its schools outperform 90% of the state's, and it is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns. Its lowest mark, a B, is in cost of living. Only 18 of Kentucky’s 238 towns score higher on hazard risk. Independence has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Metcalfe-Stephens House and Independence Historic District. Independence's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 83% of U.S. towns.
Where Independence beats most towns.
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Summit View Academy | PK–8 | 1,324 |
| Kenton Elementary School | PK–5 | 650 |
| Beechgrove Elementary School | PK–5 | 645 |
24,757 counted in 2010 and 28,676 in 2020; an estimated 30,198 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 5.2% since 2020, after 15.8% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Kentucky), ordered by how far Independence is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 182 in 1850, 28,676 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1950 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Independence. Close and well known come first.
Big draw23 mi Theme parkArk Encounter
10 mi Stadium & arenaPaycor Stadium
10 mi Stadium & arenaGreat American Ball Park
Big draw30 mi Theme parkKings Island3.5M visitors a year
12 mi Stadium & arenaNippert Stadium
11 mi Stadium & arenaTQL StadiumArk Encounter: OlinEJ, CC0 · Paycor Stadium: JonRidinger, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Great American Ball Park: Eric Kilby profile at Flickr website, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kings Island: Eli Duke from Portland, OR, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Nippert Stadium: Ben Levin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · TQL Stadium: Cornfield948, CC BY-SA 3.0
Who provides power, water and the rest in Independence, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Independence.
Independence sends many workers across the state line, reports less crime than Erlanger or any other graded neighbor and has less tooth loss than most of Kentucky.
Its A tops all 3 graded towns on its borders; Erlanger (A−) comes closest. Violent crime is rare: 15 reported in 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
Independence’s property crime rate is 3.5 per 1,000 residents, where Kentucky’s towns sit at 8.3 and U.S. towns at 9.9. Independence’s violent crime rate is 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
| Independence | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.5 per 1,000 residents | 8.3 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.5 per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Its A is the best School Grade on its borders; Erlanger (A−) is next.
Its public schools are run by the Kenton County school district. Three of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Simon Kenton High School, with 1,893 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit View AcademyLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 1,324 | B+ |
| Simon Kenton High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,893 | A− |
| Kenton Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 650 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KY on state tests and graduation
Its typical home is the priciest on its borders; Ryland Heights is next at $255K. The median property tax bill is $2,527, against $1,544 across Kentucky, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Independence home is worth about $328,000, up 3% in a year, 42% above the Kentucky typical home. 84% of households own their home in Independence, against 59% in Kentucky’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns. The median rent in Independence is $1,250 a month.
| Independence | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 84% | 59% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,250 a month | $930 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its widest gap with Kentucky is tooth loss: 10.1% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 18.9% statewide. Its A− for health tops all 3 graded neighbors; Erlanger (B) comes closest.
11% of Independence adults report frequent physical distress. Independence beats the Kentucky average on 17 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 18% of Independence adults binge drink.
| Independence | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 15% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 16% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 23% | 19% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 27% | 25% |
| What stands out | Independence | KY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.1% | 18.9% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 2.5% | 4% |
| More binge drinkers | 17.9% | 14.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
20% of working residents cross a state line to work. Jobs based here grew from 3,094 in 2013 to 4,863.
Most working residents leave Independence for work: only 4% work in town. Jobs based in Independence grew to 4,863 in 2023, 1,769 more than in 2013. 8.8% of residents live below the poverty line in Independence.
| Independence | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $102,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 4% | 15% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 16% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities. Since 1996, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Independence.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
5.8 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Fox Run Park, at 550 acres.
| Independence | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 6.6% | 1.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lincoln Ridge Park | 1.1 mi | 71 |
| 2. Memorial Park | 0.7 mi | 16 |
| 3. Manor Hill Community Walking and Nature Trails | 0.5 mi | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Independence has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 23° and about 23 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The median household earns $102,361, against $63,726 across Kentucky, one input to its B+ for jobs and income.
People 65 and older are 11% of residents (17% statewide); children under 18 are 28% of residents (23% statewide). Independence has grown 5.2% since 2020, to 30,198 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 36% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 28% across Kentucky.
| Independence | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 28% | 22% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 11% | 17% | 18% |
| Median age | 33.7 years | 37.6 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 26% | 29% |
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.7 points. Across Kentucky, 50.5% of residents are women. Median age: women 35.6, men 32.6.
| Independence | KY | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.2% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.6% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.6% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 16.5% | 13.1% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.4% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.8% | 10.5% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.8% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.1% | 11.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26.7% | 32.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.5% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.3% | 9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 25.2% | 16.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.2% | 11.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
13 within 15 miles of the center of Independence
About 5 of every 100 Independence residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kentucky.
Where Independence’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Kentucky, United States
Independence is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. It is one of its county's two seats of government. The population was 28,676 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the third largest city in Northern Kentucky after Covington and Florence, and is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Independence is a home-rule class city under Kentucky law.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
4 towns share a border with Independence.
At #6 in KY, it grades higher overall than all 3 graded towns on its borders; Erlanger (A+) comes closest.
| Town | KY rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | #6 | A+ | B | A | A | A− |
| Erlanger | #9 | A+ | A− | A− | A− | B |
| Ryland Heights | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Covington | #72 | C+ | B | C | B+ | C− |
| Elsmere | #43 | B | B | B+ | A− | C |
Ryland Heights isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Independence with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Yes, by almost any measure. Independence grades A+ overall, better than 98% of U.S. towns and #6 of 138 in Kentucky. It grades A− for health, A for safety and A for schools.
That is 4 years of the area's median household income ($81,120 across the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
2 notable people were born here, including Michael Mayer and Hollis Hammonds.
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